- one8one

HUMAN CALCULATOR and how he uses his brain
CATS &DOGS and how you can give them a home
APPS to improve your photography skills
SPRING GLOW fashion
DUBAI MARATHON to train for Mount Everest base camp
ON TOP OF THE WORLD inspiration to climb for a cause
CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS and where to do what
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE do you know enough?
Top Youth Volunteer
Shrimal Attapattu
tells us what it’s like to touch
people’s lives and create a
positive impact
AED 10
Written by
Youth for Youth
Your
Passion
Space
thewalltreat.com
1
Editor’s
Letter
SUPER POWERS
When I was really young my wonderfully crazy parents taught me
something very valuable (which I didn’t necessarily believe back then).
They said that every person on earth has super powers, which they don’t
know they have, and that is why no one ever uses them. I was told that it
was one of the greatest secrets in the world and that only a selected few
knew about those super powers and I was very lucky to be one of them.
It was a great big secret because those powers are so powerful that ONE
person can change the whole universe single-handedly. I’ve started to
believe that what they’ve taught me is true. If one person can calculate
the answer to 89 to the power of 20 in less than one minute (p. 9) and
another can beat the record, running a marathon for the first time (p.44),
then what else are people capable of? What am I capable of?
Spring always reminds me of a scene in Bambi, animals running around
and birds chirping happily, loads of sun beams shining through the trees
and just a feeling of utter joy. This month we’ve decided to include our
furry friends in our fashion shoot (p.26) and give you a chance to make a
difference in their lives by giving them a good home where they can live
happily ever after.
I urge you to get out there and try out your super powers as soon as
you can. Start out with something small like volunteering at charitable
organizations (p. 61) and making a difference. Then you can move on to
greater things like climbing Mount Everest (p.46) for a good cause and
bending spoons and stuff. Make sure you find great background music
while you’re doing your thing.
MARIA ROUSAN
editor@one8one.net
My Say
TELL US WHAT YOU
THINK!
Pasquala van Beusekom
I was looking at all the awesome pictures
on your Facebook page! They all look
amazing.
Write to us at mysay@one8one.net and tell
us what you think. All submissions must
include your name and contact details.
Submissions may be edited for spelling
or length and may be published in any
medium. All submissions become property
of one8one.
Ramya
Just wanted to say that I loved your latest
issue! As an English project we have
to make our own magazine based on a
theme and have to have an article and an
interview. I have chosen my magazine to
be about photography.
Danielle Van Jaarsveld
I am more than intrigued and although
I have never actually written anything
that has ever been published, I thought to
myself, what’s the harm in trying?
Hayon Shin
I’ve read your magazines and I really
love the work that the youth have done
and the beautiful presentation of the
magazine. The fact that the youth have
such a powerful voice coupled with
professionalism while still being able to
maintain their youthful familiarity was
what mostly impressed me. And it’s made
me want to be a part of the crew. :)
Ghadeer Nasser Abeidoh
Thank you so much one8one for the Media
passes to BOLDtalks I can’t wait to speak
to the speakers!
Editor’s Letter 1
My Say 2
‘s Up 4-5
S’ cool Stuff 6-9
Buy vs Adopt 10-11
When It Rhymes 12
Bookshelf 13
Gaming 14-15
Local Band: The Flaming Trees 16-17
Hitlist 19
Album Reviews 20
Concerts 22-23
Fashion: Spring Glow 24-29
HIs and Her Looks 30-31
Superyouth: Shrimal Attapattu 32-35
Are We the Ones to Blame? 36
Smiles 37
Gizmos & Gadgets 38
Movies 39
Human Nature 40-41
Photographer: Maitha Bint Khalid 42-43
Steps to Great Heights 44-45
On the top of the World 46-47
OMG! 48
Photography 50-51
Letters to a Coach 52-53
You Are What You Eat 54-55
Astrology 56-57
Quiz 58
Brain Food 59
Jokes 60
Charitable Organizations 61
For You to Know 62
How to Submit to ‘one8one’ 63
‘s up
What
When
Where
MARCH
The Mouse
that Roared,
DUCTAC, Dubai
(Mar 1-Mar 3)
Dubai Polo Gold
Cup Series,
Dubai Polo &
Equestrian Club,
Dubai
(Mar 2-Mar 11)
Careers UAE,
DICEC, Dubai
(Mar 5-Mar 7)
Abu Dhabi
Festival,
Abu Dhabi
(Mar 11-April 6)
The Emirates
International
Festival of
Literature,
InterContinental
Hotel, Festival
City, Dubai
(Mar 6-Mar 10)
Duran Duran
Live, 7he Sevens
Stadium, Dubai
Dubai
International
Boat Show,
Mina Seyahi,
Dubai
(Mar 13-Mar 17)
Women as
Global Leaders
Conference,
Zayed University,
Abu Dhabi
(Mar 13-Mar 15)
Design Days
Dubai,
Emaar
Boulevard, Dubai
(Mar 18-Mar 21)
Family Art
Workshop: Italian
Renaissance
Drawing,
Studio Manarat
Al Saadiyat,
Abu Dhabi
(Mar 7-Mar 8)
Emerging Artist
Award,
Plantation
Lounge, Sofitel
Hotel JBR, Dubai
(Mar 13-Mar 31)
Tbreak
Developers
Conference,
Knowledge Village,
Dubai
(Mar 14-Mar 15)
David Guetta
Live, Yas Arena,
Abu Dhabi
Sandance ft.
Calvin Harris,
Snow Patrol &
Eric Morillo,
Nasimi Beach,
Dubai
Abu Dhabi
Netball League:
Abu Dhabi vs.
Bahrain , Al Ain
(Mar 8-Mar 10)
Fleshcrawl Live,
Rock City Club,
Dubai
Auditions
for ‘Cats’,
DUCTAC, Dubai
(Mar 16-Mar 17)
Taste of Dubai,
Dubai Media
City, Dubai
(Mar 15-Mar 17)
Art Dubai,
Madinat
Jumeriah, Dubai
(Mar 21-Mar 24)
Navroz
Abu Dhabi
International
Book Fair,
Abu Dhabi
(Mar 28-April 2)
Know of something going on in town? Want to share? Write to us about it to mysay@one8one.net.
8
6
S’ cool stuff
EMIRATES AVIATION COLLEGE HITS
THE HIGHEST GRADUATES NUMBER
Emirates Aviation College honoured 197 graduates at Monday’s
graduation ceremony. Presided over by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed
bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates
Airline and Group, the ceremony was attended by 500 families,
friends and Emirates’ senior management. Students were awarded
degrees across a multitude of disciplines including 13 UAE national
graduates, all also Emirates staff, who received the higher national
diploma in Computing and Software Engineering. Additionally, the
ceremony also commemorated 28 graduates from the postgraduate
MBA programmes, 17 of whom are Emirates staff, and all of whom are
professionals working in the aviation, logistics, and IT fields.
Emirates Aviation College will introduce two additional programmes;
an MSc in Aviation Safety and a higher national diploma in
Operations Engineering.
MURDOCH UNIVERSITY
EMPOWERS WOMEN AT THE
WOMEN’S LUNCHBOX 2012
Murdoch University, Dubai’s debut Women’s Lunchbox
2012 set a precedent for all academic institutions as it
launched in true Murdoch style with a panel discussion
on one of the most talked about topics; Social Media:
Return on Investment. Two hundred women from
various disciplines filled to the ballroom to the brim and
expressed delight to have been invited to an event where
they were given a platform to excel and network with
like-minded professionals.
The panel, consisting of 5 women, all experts in their
respective fields, revealed how they measured return on
investment within their industries.
PASSION TO PROFESSION:
GAMING ACADEMY OPEN DAY
twofour54 tadreeb hosted an open day at the Gaming Academy in Abu
Dhabi on 1st February. The open day provided details of the Academy’s
16 month gaming courses, which will officially commence with the
first student intake in March 2012. The courses have been specifically
tailored and developed by Ubisoft professionals and include an
internship at Ubisoft’s new development studio at twofour54.
ART & FASHION AT
ESMOD FASHION STORE
Esmod Dubai, the only French institute fully dedicated to fashion in the
region, has held the “ Art & Fashion Exhibition” of Alan Germain at the
Esmod Fashion Store in Dubai’s Wafi Mall. The exhibition generated
major interest among fashion enthusiasts in the emirate.
Mr. Germain was in Dubai to conduct a week-long workshop on artinspired costume design for the students of Esmod. The exhibition at
Wafi was a culmination of the workshop, featuring the creations of the
students who were required to create dresses inspired by famous 20th
century artists. They were required to use any type of fabrics in their
design, but were given the challenge of making their creations in less
than 6 days with an Haute Couture spirit in mind.
COLOR AND FASHION WITH
TALA SAMMAN AT SAKS!
I went to the Tala Samman’s event held at Saks Fifth Avenue for their new
S/S Collection and omg the event was full of colours, sweets cakes and of
course gorgeous fashion! From the Candy Bar, the DJ and the Nail Station
everything made the event so good! Tala Samman herself looked gorgeous
and I was lucky enough to speak to her and she even commented on my bag.
To showcase the clothes there was a mini fashion show, all the fashion was
chosen and styled by Tala Samman and I definitely love her taste!
by
LOUISA NORTHCOTE
AUD HELPS RAISE AED 65,000
FOR SENSES RESIDENTIAL AND
DAY CARE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
The American University in Dubai (AUD) has yet
accomplished another humanitarian mission by organizing
a charity concert, in collaboration with the Rotary Club
of Jumeirah and the Rotary Club of Milano San Siro, on
its campus. The classical music concert featured two
renowned artists from the Conservatory of Milan: piano
player Massimo Fiocchi Malaspina, and baritone Niccolo’
Scaccabarozzi, who performed for the first time in the UAE.
Proceeds from the fund-raising concert, amounting to
AED65,000, were donated to the Senses Residential and Day
Care for Special Needs, a residential care facility in Dubai
that caters to disabled children and young adults.
THE KING OF DRIFT: AHMED AL AMERI
Hundreds of motorsports fans gathered in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on Friday to
witness exceptional drifting skills and exhilarating performances on display during the
UAE’s Red Bull Car Park Drift local Qualifier. A heated battle between some of the best
local driving talents culminated in crowning Ahmed Al Amiri King of Drift for the 2nd
consecutive year, adding him to the representatives’ line up for the final competition in
Beirut, which promises to deliver an intense face-off for the win of the regional title.
The panel of judges, including Rally and Race Champion Abdo Feghali, Captain Ahmed Bin
Hadi from Abu Dhabi Police and Essa Saleh from the Emirates Motorsports Federations,
evaluated the drivers according to specific standards.
LEARN TO COOK EMIRATI FOOD
WITH TDIC’S ‘SARAREED’ COOKBOOK
TDIC is continuing its mission of promoting and preserving local
heritage with the publication of Sarareed – an Emirati cuisine
cookbook. Sarareed consists of more than 80 traditional recipes that
were gathered from different regions of the UAE, and incorporates
drinks, desserts, breads, soups, condiments, ghee and spices, dried
food, rice, and main dishes. Passed on from generation to generation,
Emirati recipes are imprinted on Emirati memory. Sarareed shows
the reader ways in which to prepare delicious meals from the
simplest ingredients that exist in the UAE’s vast desert and rich sea.
MMA KICKS IT AT JBR
one8one gave me a great opportunity to witness the MMA
competition in Dubai held on JBR Marina which by far has
been one of the best competitions I’ve ever been to in the
UAE. Amazing fights and fighters! The Russian team was
by far the best in terms of technique and stamina. The guys
from Generation Extreme were amazing as well. The whole
event was extremely well organized with a relatively large
crowd that seemed to enjoy every second of it.
by
octavian lehadus
Photo: Adrian Lehadus
TALKS WITH A MENTAL
CALCULATOR
On the 25th of Feb, I was lucky enough to
attend BOLDtalks in Dubai, which is an
annual event that has been going on in
Dubai for 3 years now, it brings together
some of the most acclaimed international
speakers to talk about a variety of
subjects and makes way for open dialogue
between the audience and the speakers.
I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing
Rudiger Gamm (also known as the mental
calculator) about how we can maximize
our brain potential.
First of all, I’ve read so much about you, you’re recognized internationally as a
modern day genius and you’re also a whiz with numbers but it didn’t start until
quite recently when you graduated from school, can you tell me when and how did
it start?
It all started when I was 21, it was exactly 2 weeks after I had left school, I’d decided
that I wanted to be good at something, so I started memorizing 2 digits numbers to
different powers, and I recognized that I can memorize more numbers so I kept going.
That was the very first beginning, after that I moved on with my talent and tried to
develop it.
So what was it like in high school for you?
It was a catastrophe, I was very bad in math, I failed school because of it. I was known
as the worst math student in the entire school.
How did it happen all the sudden? what made you want to become better at math?
I think it’s not math that I’m good at, I think I’m good at a type of mental
concentration. It has nothing to do with numbers, I like numbers but the main
challenge for me is to see what the brain is able to do.
What did you study in university?
I didn’t go to university because I have no high school education, I’m not allowed to
study in Germany! I think we have a problem with our education systems in general is
that it doesn’t matter what you can do, what matters to them is how long you’ve been
at school.
Yet you are an accomplished brain trainer, can you tell us a bit about your work.
The secret to training the brain is not to enlarge the activity of the brain but instead
you must minimize it. It’s just like using the muscle, for example the bench press; if
you can only lift 50 kilos you will need 100% of the muscles but if you can lift 200 kilos,
and want to lift the 50 you will end up using 5 or 10% of the muscles and it’s the same
with the brain, you need to be able to do a lot while exerting little effort, and the only
way to do that is to use the brain as a whole, to synchronize the hemispheres of the
brain, right and left side. The left side is used for logical activities, the right side is
for creativity. Most people use just one side, mostly the left side. But if you are able to
synchronize these hemispheres you can do things that you wouldn’t believe.
Can you tell us what’s the most interesting part of your job and what’s the most
difficult part?
The most interesting part of my job is that I get to do what I can do, I help people
develop their abilities, and the most difficult part is to make people realize how easy
it can be.
People think it’s very difficult and
complicated, but everybody is able to train
their brain.
What kind of exercises do we have to do to
train our brain?
To synchronize the hemispheres of your
brain you must realize that the left side
of your brain controls the right side of
your body and the right side of your brain
controls the left side of your body, so if you
can do different activities crossing over,
there will be an increased activity in your
corpus collosum (which is the part that
divides the cerebrum into right and left
hemispheres) and it will help make the flow
of the information better.
Just as a side note, I read somewhere that
women have a larger corpos collosum than
men do, is that true?
Yes, normally women are more intelligent
than men.
I’m going to quote you on that, is that ok?
Sure, why not?
Can you give a piece of advice to youth who
are struggling in high school or uni and
they want to become better?
They must believe in their abilities, many
students have an over activity in the left
hemisphere of the brain and they’re not
relaxed. you must understand that you
need time to learn and you must study the
right thing, because not everybody is able
to do the same thing, there are differences
between people’s brains and you must be
able to find the right balance.
by
Ghadeer abeidoh
10
Buy vs. Adopt
by
PARINAAZ NAVDAR
When it comes to the pet abandonment,
the UAE isn’t a poster child for
responsible pet ownership. Every
year, hundreds, if not thousands of
pet “owners” leave their dogs, cats,
hamsters, etc. behind as they relocate to
greener pastures or realise their puppy
or kitten has outgrown its cute phase.
As someone who has recently adopted a
pet, I can assure you that a dog, whether
a cross or a pure-bred hound is going to
love you exactly the same. Will show you
the same loyalty, will jump and bounce
around happily when you walk through
your door, will be just as frustrating to
house-train and will play fetch and heed
your commands exactly the same. And
a cat, whether adopted or bought will
ignore you and be indifferent just the
same. Why then, do we still see the need
to “buy” a pet than adopt one of the many
who are filling the kennels and catteries
in the UAE?
While pure-bred dogs and cats are no
doubt prettier to look at, what kind of
idea are we suggesting when we put
down thousands of dirhams for a fluffy
Pekinese? The next time you think of
wanting a pet, consider adopting one and
instead donating the extra money to one
of the many shelters who are doing an
outstanding job of taking care of other
people’s responsibilities.
Moreover, the fact is that cross-breed
dogs and cats tend to have a better
temperament than their pure-bred
cousins, usually adopting the best
qualities of the two breeds they share.
They tend to be healthier with fewer
inbreeding problems, which means fewer
visits to the vet and more money in your
pocket.
It is not your place nor mine to judge
whether a pure bred dog is more
deserving of a good home as opposed
to a loving cross; they are all equally as
loving. It is the mind-set of people that
needs to change. Only when backyard
breeders realise that the first criteria for
pet owners is not “pure-bred” or “cute
and fluffy” will the cruel cycle of pet
abandonment stop. So the next time you
are thinking about getting a pet, consider
adopting one.
Like dubai-based dog shelter K9 Friends
says, “Don’t buy when kennel dogs cry.”
!!! A FEW THINGS TO
CONSIDER BEFORE ADOPTING A PET:
By adopting a pet you save TWO lives – Not only are you giving an abandoned dog
or cat a home, you are making space for one more at the shelter.
Your location and the type of pet you are adopting – Large dogs are best suited
to villas and homes with a garden because they need lots of exercise. Smaller
doggies far better in an apartment. Cats are usually happy in their own little
corner and don’t require much space of their own. Will someone always be there
to spend time with your pet? Again, this is more important for a dog, because
they are, after all, social creatures. The happiest dogs are those with constant
companions, and who can resist a cuddle from a cutie? Another factor that is very
important to consider in the UAE is the holiday situation – who would look after
your pet when you’re on holiday?
The expenses – From grooming, training and feeding to vaccinations,
multivitamins and visits to the vet, pets don’t come cheap and you shouldn’t
expect them to either. On average, expect to spend anywhere in the AED500 range
at the least per month; however, you will want to budget a lot more the first time
you bring your pet home. “On average vaccinations a year cost AED330. Good
food such as Royal Canin would cost AED 85 per month,” says Lesley Muncey,
Chairperson of Feline Friends.
Puppy/kitten or dog/cat? – Puppies usually need constant attention and training,
but there’s just no denying the cuteness. However, if you aren’t sure who’s always
going to be home, it may be best to adopt older dogs or cats who have already
developed their unique personalities and are more independent.
Fostering vs. adopting – If you’re not quite sure if you’re ready for the
responsibility of having a pet for the next 10 to 15 years of your life, you may
want to consider fostering a dog or cat first. This not only provides a lot of help
to shelters who are stretched quite thin, but also gives you a chance to figure out
whether you are responsible enough to keep a pet… you never know, you might
just end up adopting the dog you foster.
ANIMAL SHELTERS AND FOSTER CARERS:
K9 Friends
Phone: 04 8858031
Email: info@k9friends.com
Dubai Animal Rescue Centre
Phone: 050 8587844
Email: info@darcuae.org
Feline Friends Dubai
Phone: 050 4510058
Email: info@felinefriends.com
Feline Friends Abu Dhabi
Phone: 050 5822916
Email: info@felinefriendsuae.com
Friends of Animals
Phone: 050 7242588
Email: info@friendsofanimalsdxb.com
Sharjah Cat & Dog Shelter
Phone: 06 5453985
Email: cresswell.e@gmail.com
12
When It
Rhymes
OF LIFE AND LOVE
by
ANWaR MARWAN
A lot I wrote in my past years,
A lot I have admired,
I have loved, and shed tears,
I have laughed, been defiant,
Listen to me, open your ears,
My words hold treasures,
Treasures so wonderful, my dears.
I was a lad with a few springs,
But I had words that far exceed,
My years, and it still rings,
A bell, of sweetest sound indeed,
Wake, hear the birds happily sing,
What else matters? What do you need?
If you could list every blessing,
Then you curse as you see and heed,
My words, you can’t count everything
And you won’t, let me speak in your stead.
Blessed we are, but we never see it,
Only lose it and it is crystal clear,
The blind curse vague sight and sit,
Down, yet, can they not hear?
There are better people much worse,
They can’t see, nor hear
Not even a word.
Look never at what you haven’t,
Just stare always at what you own,
Bluntly said, cry you wouldn’t,
Always your skills hone,
Take trust in my words, cursing what you
are you couldn’t.
About love I have little to say,
Love is a mystery of making a person sway,
Sway to wind, sway in every way,
In heart, in body and mind, every day,
Before loves takes you prisoner, do stay,
In your cabin, become what you want, then
say:
“I’m not bothered by the rose winds, I pray,
To find someone who could my sails sway,
For that someone, has in her cabin to stay,
And learn, improve, and live her own way”
TRAPPED
by
Areeba Sadiq
Africa once my homeland,
From the seas to the sand
I’ve survived through the beating and whipping we had
Always thinking-was life that bad?
Here, I was alone in chains that bounded me tight
Across the coarse seas, we travelled through the night
Facing winds so harsh, the gales so strong
Petrified and shivering as the journey was long
Isolated, remote from those whom were dear
Having dark thoughts- will they ever come near?
Separation, segregation, discrimination there was,
Then slavery accompanied to cover up the loss
The blacks treated harshly, white treated with love
Why oh why, wasn’t there anything left for us?
There I would sit crouched down in a small cellar
No one bothers, no one asks ‘how are you young fellah?’
My big brown eyes, always staring in fright
Will they ever get to see the sunlight?
Captured, caught, lost forever
Not a future ahead, nor a place to escape-never
I walk through the dark mines, my freedom buried in the dark coal
Ever wondering...did I have a role?
Eyes bloodshot, my little hands trembling
Tired and exhausted from all that stumbling
Without any love, without any care
Feeling lonely, and hurt why’s life so unfair?
I drag my shovel in the depth of the mine
Why can’t my life be so fine?
An only child- with not a right
Each child have their dreams and I have mine
To replace these anxious, frightful eyes
Believing that all slaves are nice
Give me happiness and freedom full of glee
And bring back faith in humanity.
13
Bookshelf
by
DINA HASSAN
PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER
by Stephen Chbosky
Stephen Chbosky’s plot line in this particular novel follows a sixteen year old
named Charlie as he navigates through high school after having lost his friend to
suicide. Leaving Middle School and beginning his freshman year of High School,
Charlie is a character mixed into the strange world of love, drugs, “The Rocky
Horror Picture Show”, and not only dealing with the loss of a good friend but his
favorite aunt as well. Dealing with setbacks of being a teenager, Charlie develops
a crush on an older girl, makes friends with her step brother and is supported by
his English teacher Bill, all of whom help move the plot line along, to help Charlie
find himself and his emotions. A novel filled with mixed emotions, drama and an
occasional good laugh, this is one you will not want to put down after the first
chapter.
EXTREMELY LOUD AND
INCREDIBLY CLOSE
by Jonathan Safran Foer
If you’ve been to the movie theaters
recently you will have seen
advertisements for Julia Roberts and
Tom Hanks’ new movie ‘Extremely Loud
and Incredibly Close’. But seeing as the
movie is yet to be released everyone
will just have to read the book. Like
every book-turned-movie the case will
most likely be that the book is better,
especially with this one. The story
follows a young boy called Oskar, who
goes looking for the thing that will be
unlocked with the key he finds in his
father’s closet following his death in the
Twin Towers on September 11, along
with the fictional characters Eloise and
Stuart Little. With the narrator being a 9
year old, the novel is enchanting. Despite
9/11 being slightly overdone in the book
world, it is still a very good read.
MATANZAS BAY
by Parker Francis
This novel is the first of the Quint Mitchell Mystery Series.
Quint is a private detective (PI) based out of Jacksonville
Beach, Florida who volunteered to help with an archaeological
survey run by his friend Jeffrey Poe in St. Augustine. On his
expedition he unearths the body of the city’s vice mayor.
Because of a feud over a new development called Matanzas
Bay, Mitchell’s friend Poe is the prime suspect for the murder
and while trying to prove his friend’s innocence, he also stirs
up haunting memories of his own brother’s murder. Filled
with unexpected turns, civil war crises left unattended, racial
violence, near death experiences and other interesting events,
this is one of the more entertaining mystery novels one will
read in their lifetime.
Read a book lately?
Want to share it with us?
Tell us about at mysay@one8one.net
14
Gaming
Syndicate
Leave it to Electronic Arts to remake a real-time
strategy to a first person shooter. Regardless,
Syndicate has our attention for its innovative
gameplay and futuristic world setting. It’s 2069,
and the world is on the boiling point of a brutal
war. There is no government, there are no rules
and there are no consequences. Guess who is
going to put an end to it? You are correct, sir.
Street Fighter X
Tekken
What, you want more reason than having Street
Fighter and Tekken in one game? You crazy, you.
Capcom is undertaking the Hulk-esque task of
bringing together two of the most popular fighting
game franchise with this March release. The game
will feature a roster consisting of the best of the
best, including Ryu, Ken, Akuma, Guile, Balrog, Jin,
Ogre, Kuma, King, etc. It’s a long, long list.
I Am Alive
Ubisoft’s survival thriller aims to be just
that – survival and thrilling. The player must
micro-manage everything they have got,
from food to pills to medicine, and even the
character’s stamina. Jumping, climbing,
running, all cost stamina, and it must be
used incisively, or face flat-out death. It’s got
the post-apocalyptic setting but it’s fresh
gameplay mechanics breathes a new life into
the stifling genre.
Mass Effect 3
The ancient alien race known as Reapers
are back, and they are hell-bent on
achieving what they do best – all-out
invasion, total destruction, and a clean
swipe of the galaxy. Only one person can
put a stop to it, and that is of course,
Commander Shepard, who brushed off
death in 2010’s Mass Effect 2, collected
a team specializing in kicking ass, and
become the only hope for not only mother
Earth, but also for the entire civilization of
the galaxy. Mass Effect 3 is to be the final
chapter in Shepard’s story.
Alan Wake
After un-darkening the dark spooky
passages of Bright Light Falls (ironic, isn’t
it?) on the Xbox 360, developers Remedy
Entertainment is bringing their scare-fest
on the PC. Alan Wake is about a writer,
of the same name, who is facing an odd
enemy – his novel, and he doesn’t even
remember writing it. The psychological
thriller offers a multi-layered story and
Remedy’s trademark gameplay mechanics,
i.e, slow-motion action-packed sequences.
LOCAL
BEATS
The Flaming
Trees
LOCAL
BEATS
The Flaming Trees
817
4 young 20-somethings, 4 diverse
nationalities, 4 distinctive sounds, one
passion- Music. Meet Elias Sabella, Alaa
Ineni, Ibad Khalid and Jiten Jeswani.
Meet The Flaming Trees.
What started years ago in high school as a fun musical experiment, is now a fullfledged alternative/hard rock band that has been nominated to open for acts such as
Nickleback and Coldplay and have played on the same stage as 30 Seconds to Mars!
But how did it all start? “Well, when I was in 7th grade, I was always interested in
music and wanted to start a band,” says Elias, the founder, rhythm guitarist, vocalist
and songwriter. “So I started a school band but that didn’t work out very well. Then 4
years ago, I started this band, although the members have changed so many times!
I’m the only one remaining from the original members,” he adds. Although the years
saw members come and go, the distinct sound of The Flaming Trees remain the same.
While Elias writes lyrics to their songs, all other members contribute to the track.
“Whenever I write something, the guys add riffs, drums, etc to it,” says Elias. “But
most of our stuff comes during practice breaks. While we are practicing one song,
we stop in between to jam. That’s when sometimes we like what comes out of it and
it becomes a song!” adds Alaa, the drummer. But what does a regular 20-something
write about? “I write mainly about life,” says Elias. “I used to write about love before
but the guys started getting on my back saying we aren’t a boy-band,” they all crack
up as Elias continues. “So now I write about life in general, how sometimes it’s not
so easy. I write about the darker side of love, you know, breakups and stuff,” Elias
says seriously. “Whenever he’s heartbroken, he starts to write!” jokes Ibad and Alaa.
Ibad, the lead guitarist, is the misfit of the band, or the “black goat” as Alaa teasingly
calls him. “I’ve always been into metal and was previously in a death metal band. But
since I’ve joined the band I’ve started listening to hard rock so that I can play stuff
that matches this sound. Although, my influences would be old school metal like
Ozzy Osborne and Black Sabbath,” Ibad continues defending himself. But that is what
makes the band unique. “Since we all have different sounds, we all bring something
different to the table,” Alaa agrees. “Me and Elias are into stuff like Foo Fighters,
Nirvana, Guns n Roses,” he adds.
But besides having distinctive tastes in music, these 4 lads also come from 4 very
diverse parts of the world. Elias is Jordanian and met Alaa, who hails from Syria, in
church. Ibad comes from Pakistan and joined the band 7 months ago, while Jiten, the
oldest member of the band is from India. In spite of this, it is easy to see the chemistry
between them as they constantly engage in silly banter.
3 of the 4 members are still in university and this does take up a lot of their time
making it hard to practice on a daily basis. “Now we have to balance a lot of things
and organize our time,” says Ibad. “Sometimes our gigs clash with our studies and
that’s when it gets tricky. But our biggest disadvantage is the 21+ rule in most places.
We have to wait a year to overcome that,” Elias explains.
Currently the guys are keeping it low since their bass player, Jiten is out of the
country for a few weeks but they do have big plans ahead. “We are in talks with the
CHILLOUT Festival to play there for this year’s event,” Alaa says. “And hopefully even
an album in April! It’s about time we make an album, but we keep procrastinating
that,” he laughs.
by
Sandra Mergulhão
MUSIC
GET THE PHOTO APPS
19
1. PART OF ME
Katy Perry
2. SET FIRE TO THE RAIN
Adele
3. WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
Whitney Houston
4. STRONGER
Kelly Clarkson
5. ROLLING IN THE DEEP
SNAPSEED
Winner of Apple’s “iPad App of the
Year” award, Snapseed is an app that
packs a gazillion of features for
post-production photography. It’s
simple yet intuitive interface helps
you get the most artistic results.
$4.99 (iOS), coming soon to Android.
Absolutely the best for online tech
entertainment.
6. WE ARE YOUNG
7. SOMEONE LIKE YOU
AWESOME URLS:
WWW.MASHABLE.COM
Adele
fun. ft. Janelle Monae
Hitlist
INSTAGRAM
WWW.THEOATMEAL.COM
Winner of Apple’s “iPhone App of the
Year” award, Instagram is definitely
a must-have from the AppStore.
Snap, edit, share beautiful photos via
Instagram inner community as well as
all over Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr.
Free on iPod Touch and iPhone.
Hilarious collection of quizzes, comics
and other jokes. Updated daily
ADELE LIVE AT THE
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
MY WEEK WITH
MARILYN
50/50
Cast: Adele Adkins, Jo Allen and
Stephanie Cavey
Cast: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne
and Kenneth Branagh
Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth
Rogen and Anna Kendrick
Magnificent! An eight-times Grammy
winner, soul sensation- Adele graces the
stage of Royal Albert Hall for an absolutely
stunning performance. In our age and day
of auto-tuned, over-produced music, it is
a breath of fresh air to see somebody so
talented give a show of pure simplicity
and raw vocals. Adele adds a pinch of
humor that gives the concert a feel like it’s
a bunch of friends gathering and singing
together rather than an immensely
successful singer performing for an
enormous audience. The orchestra, the
arrangements, the lighting and, most of
all, Adele turn this into a collector’s item.
An insightful story from Colin Clark and
his week spent with the queen of cinema,
Marilyn Monroe, while working for Sir
Laurence Olivier at a set of “The Prince
and The Showgirl” It is the first time Ms
Monroe is shown as an insecure, unhappy
and fragile woman, who constantly
looked for affection and never cared of
the consequences. In the midst of her
worldwide success, there was a woman
who wanted to be loved, start a family and
live a simple life. Mr Clark spends a week
with Marilyn, who lets him into her life,
but only for a short while, breaking his
heart in the end. My Week with Marilyn is
probably the most personal movie about
the Blue Screen beauty to date.
When Adam (Joseph GordonLevitt) finds out he’s got a rare
form of cancer his life turns upside
down. His already-on-the-rocks
relationship, friendships and family
relationship are all tested to the
max. Adam’s life, as a young radio
host, suddenly looks totally different
and makes him question everything.
This dramatic, sometimes-comedy
will leave you laughing and crying
as long as you’re watching it.
Truly touching.
Adele
8. WE FOUND LOVE
Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
9. STARSHIPS
Niki Minaj
10. TURN UP THE MUSIC
Chris Brown
WWW.IFIXIT.COM
GOOGLE THIS...
The place to go to if you like to fix your
gadgets yourself. Contains thousands
of manuals on how to fix anything from
WWW.SPLODER.COM
gadgets to cars.
WWW.THESMOKINGGUN.COM
WWW.COLLEGEHUMOR.COM
OUT ON DVD...
20
Album
Reviews
BJÖRK
‘BIOPHILIA’
“Biophilia”, Björk’s eighth studio album that
has introduced a new level of interacting with
music. One can argue she is one of the most
innovative and boundarie-pushing artists of the
past 15 years. The album has been converted
into the apps that can be downloaded from
Apple iTunes. Each song is an App, that consists
of a unique interface, which lets you touch, play
and construct music and its visual elements.
Speaking of the sound of “Biophilia”, true to
Björk’s nature, it is filled with strings, some
dubstep, lots of vocals and just plain new/old
Björk. I personally don’t know whether I like
the record or the package it comes with, for it’s
unique but is it as good as “Vespertine”?
WHITNEY HOUSTON
‘THE GREATEST HITS’
I write in loving memory of the greatest
voice of all time. Although I was very
young when I first heard her songs but
for some reason I know almost all the
lyrics. Who doesn’t? The first CD has all
of Whitney Houston’s original old songs.
The ones you used to hear everywhere
when you were a kid. The second has all
the remixes of the old songs like “I wana
dance with Somebody” and “I’m Your Baby
Tonight” for those that like something a
little different. There are three new songs
that make an appearance on this disk
which we’ve not heard before and they
are amazing. The last song in the album
is “The Star Spangled Banner” with the
Florida Orchestra.
22
Concerts
Invisible Light
Scissor Sisters
by
STEREOHEAD
Photos: Anton Rodionov
Talk about the unexpected! This is the last band on earth I expected to see in the UAE.
Do I need to say how surprised I was? The duo performed at Flash Forum, which is a
mid-size venue that probably fit a couple of thousands that night. Thanks to its size,
the whole show felt intimate, as real as it gets and reminded me more of those one-off
performances at a smaller venue; personal, natural and raw.
Even though the funky divas came out almost one hour late, people seemed to be
having a blast. There were costumes, oversized wigs, super-high heels and other
stuff you don’t see everyday. The best part about the event was people who were of all
ages. At some point I found myself inbetween a 60 year old woman and a 25 year old
guy, and let me tell you, both of them were dancing the night away.
The band performed most of their hits from all the three albums they have released
to date. The crowd went ballistic to Take Your Mama and Fire With Fire. I, personally,
found myself singing along to most of their songs, after all, I did start listening to
them from Comfortably Numb days. What amazed me the most is how they did not
change their costumes for most part of the show. Jake wore the “denim disater”, the
name I gave it the second he came on stage, and Ana looked like someone from Alice
in Wonderland, which perfectly fit them both. They are the Scissor Sisters after all!
To finish their one-and-a-half hour show the duo quickly changed into darker ourtifts
with Jake wearing skin-tight denim pants and a vest, looking like someone from Star
Treck and Ana in a stripy dress, which reminded me of one of those illusion images
where the longer you look at it the more stuff you see. Clothes aside, the show ended
with their latest single “Invisible Light”, which is probably their darkest piece to date.
Some didn’t get it, the others felt euphoric, I was among the latter.
Overall, Flash has outdone themselves again: brilliant organization, great venue,
and, most imortantly, a fantastic choice of musicians. Let’s just hope they never stop
spoiling us with all the events.
Kasabian, thanks to Done Events, hit the stage on the 10th of Feb at 7he Sevens
stadium which was a rather compact venue but was packed with many fans of
different generations and nationalities (with a whole lot of Brits to support a band of
their region). This event was an eccentric one considering it was a rock band rather
than an artist who is frequently played on the radio in Dubai and still managed to
bring out so many fans.
The band played their classic hits ‘Club Foot’, ‘Shoot the runner’, ‘Vlad the Impaler’
and ended with a more electronic styled ‘Switchblade Symphony’ which made people
go crazy, including some with boxes on their heads while most of the fans danced
throughout the show. The band members, all unique in terms of singing and dressing,
seemed to enjoy their time on stage as they came out grinning almost instantly at the
sight of their cheering fans (especially their drummer Ian who had the jolliest smile
even when he seemed to be struggling).
Tom even interacted with the crowd humorously as he stated “We’re from Leicester
and have Walkers backstage” referring to the crisps produced in their home town.
And although the fans started off quietly, throughout the show the Kasabian’s music
made them much more enthusiastic. The stage was set up well with their gigantic
logo projected at the back, and should we say the lighting was perfect!
Overall, we enjoyed the show, its great atmosphere and weather (before Dubai
gets too hot), however it was disappointing to see it end in only an hour and a half.
They did make up for it though, with the amazing display of fireworks at the end,
shimmering in the sky for good 10 minutes. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing more bands like
Kasabian who can put on a good show in Dubai more often.
Re-Wired
Kasabian
by
Lisa Machtlinger & Diana K
Spring
Glow
Marta Cvetkovic wears
Dress/ MaxMara
Cardigan/ D&G
Belt / Massimo Dutti
Accessories/New Look
Holli Supka wears
Top/ Forever21
Skirt/ Forever21
Belt/ Massimo Dutti
Accessories/ Forever21
Shaylin Wilkins wears
Dress/ H&M
Faux-Fur Gilet/ Massimo Dutti
Necklace/ Promod
Bangles/ Bershka
Nadine Talaat (left) wears
Dress/ Promod
Jumper/ Forever21
Boots/ Forever21
Headband/ New Look
Dania Chatila wears
Dress/ New Look
Cardigan/ D&G
Shoes/ Max & Co
Headband/ Forever21
On Dania’s lap/ Henry from Feline Friends
Marta Cvetkovic wears
Faux-Fur Jacket/ Promod
Dress/ Calzedonia
Shoes/ Zara
Headband/ Miu-Miu
Marta’s companions/Brianne, Aztec and Lexi from K9 Friends
Want to be a model?
We are looking for all shapes and
sizes. If you know how to smile and
want to try modeling, email us your
photo and why you’d want to be a
model to mysay@one8one.net
If you know a bit about fashion,
write to us or help out our stylists
and a photographer during the
fashion shoots. It’s loads of fun!
We would like to thank K9 Friends
and Feline Friends for providing us
with beautiful animals for the shoot.
www.felinefriendsdubai.com
www.k9friends.com
Dahlia Dandashi wears
Dress/ TopShop
Boots/ UGG
Necklace / Forever21
Headband/ New Look
30
Her Look
by LOUISA NORTHCOTE
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BRIGHTS!
Spring/Summer is finally here! Time to get rid of
those winter colours and bring some brights into your
wardrobe! Colour was the hottest trend at this season’s
London Fashion Week! Neon is definitely the in thing at
the moment so don’t be afraid to wear some colour!
CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL INVASION!
Dubai has finally caught the Cambridge Satchel
syndrome! The Cambridge Satchel Company is a
British company founded in 2008 originally aimed
at school children because of its traditional satchel
style but they have now become a saught-after piece
in the fashion world! The leather satchels are great
for this season because of how bright they are. The
satchels can be found in many stores located around
the city now: Bloomingdale’s, Harvey Nichols and
S*UCE are among some, or visit their website www.
cambridgesatchelcompany.co.uk. Join the satchel mania
and you won’t regret it trust me!
MINT MANIA!
A great bright colour you should have in
your wardrobe at the moment is mint,
like this ACNE jumper, which is for both
men and women. Lots of celebs have
been seen wearing it, including Kanye
West when he was front row at London
Fashion Week.
GLITTER!
Another way to bring some more colour into your life is to
wear any colour of the rainbow on your nails, but to add that
extra special touch use a bright glitter nail polish instead! Nail
Station has just launched their range of glitter polishes and
they are gorgeous!
31
His Look
MAKE IT POP!
Just like the ladies, colour is the thing to be seem wearing
this season for the guys as well. London Fashion Week
was full of fashion forward guys sporting that little pop
of colour, with either, a bag, a coat or a signature piece of
clothing!
THE VINTAGE LOOK IS SO IN
Who said old isn’t in? Vintage looking items have been seen
everywhere in the fashion scene recently. Leather lace ups
are a perfect way to add the vintage touch to a guys outfit,
they look perfect paired with something modern like jeans!
FEELING PATCHY
Shoulder patches are a great way to add that little something different to a jumper
or a top! Suede patches are the best way forward they look and feel great!
Shrimal
Attapattu
“See, we all have things to do,
everyone is busy, obviously, but
at the end of the day if you ask
what the purpose of life is, you
would say; to help someone, to
make someone smile.”
In the world where it’s more important
to have the latest gadget or next
season‘s shoes, it is rare and definitely
inspirational to meet someone, whose
life is dedicated to others more than
himself. Meet Shrimal, a 22-year old
graduate with a degree in Travel &
Tourism Management who is the
youngest member of Volunteer in Dubai
organization to complete over 200 hours
a year. one8one caught up with this
selfless individual to give you an insight
on what really goes on in his big heart.
Tell us more about yourself.
Well I am 22 and I’ve just graduated
from the Skyline University in Sharjah,
majoring in BBA in Travel & Tourism
Management. I am about to start
working at FitnessFirst, which should
be fun.
33
Seems like you’ve got it all in place. So
why have you started volunteering?
Well I hope so. I guess in Dubai you
don’t get many chances to help out.
Most people here are well off, and
when an opportunity comes you take
it. I have always wanted to help out,
and I had limited transport, I saw
VolunteerinDubai page on Facebook and
I thought I would try it out for fun.
How does Volunteer In Dubai work?
We have our own site,
www.volunteerindubai.com and
whenever we have events coming up we
go to the site, check it out and sign up
for the events.
What was the first charity that you
volunteered for?
It was back in April 2009, on April 1st,
like April Fool’s Day. It was a shoe sale,
Crocs shoe sale. Basically the whole
idea of the event was, for every pair of
Crocs sold, they would donate a pair to
schools, like some schools in Ajman. This
was the first event that I saw through
the Facebook group.
34
Which charity do you enjoy
volunteering for the most?
We have an event called Funday-Sunday,
it’s basically on every Sunday, Sunday
mornings, and we take special needs
kids to specific events, like Ski Dubai,
Wild Wadi, Soccer Circus and Cinemas
in Mirdif City Centre and Mall of the
Emirates. You make sure they have a
good time. I make sure I am always free
to attend. We usually have 25 the 30 kids
that go. Since I’m a regular I take two or
three kids at a time.
“Shake hands with the
garbage man; give him a buck
or 5 bucks, something small.
For you it is a small thing
but to him, the deal is big.”
Do you have any sort of inspiration that
you look up to?
It’s just really the satisfaction, you
go for one event, you see those kids,
having a good time, you go back home,
you feel really good and you want to
go back again. It’s as simple as that.
But as for how I started, I guess it
would be my mom. Back when I was in
Sri-Lanka, I had my 8th birthday and
we took food back to an orphanage
and just celebrated my birthday. That
whole experience, gave me experience
basically.
What is the most memorable
experience you have had?
The kids from Funday-Sunday, you can’t
really expect much from them because
they can’t talk first of all and their lives
are in the home. Around two weeks ago
we had an event, and when they first
come off the bus to the event they have
no idea where they are and these two
kids when they saw me, they just came
running because they remembered and
recognized me.
Tell us about Lola and her personal
recommendation of you?
Lola is the founder of Volunteer in
Dubai, and she also has another thing
called Aid in Motion, which collects
clothes and unwanted household items
that she uses for emergency relief like
the Philippines and Pakistan when there
are floods. Because I have been there
since almost the beginning of Volunteer
in Dubai, it’s been 3 years and I’ve been
there every step of the way. I’m one of
the oldest members of VID.
How do you spread the awareness of
volunteering in Dubai? Do you use any
means of communication?
I always ask my frieds to come along for
events. There are about eight friends of
mine from the university who take part
in various Volunteer In Dubai events.
It’s more like a multiplier effect, even
their friends take part now; and when
my friends see photos of me at events
tagged on Facebook, they get curious,
wanting to know more...
With the new job coming up, how
do you plan on combining that with
volunteering? Wouldn’t it be too much?
I am entitled to a one off-day a week, so I
am hoping to take it on Sundays so I can
spend every Sunday morning with the
special needs kids, and other days, if there
are events before/after my shifts, I’m
hoping to take part in them. I guess time
will show.
Where do you hope to find yourself in
about 10 years?
Short-term as in the next few years, I
would like to keep doing this. Later on,
down the line in about 10 or 15 years, I
would like to build an orphanage back in
Colombo, in Sri Lanka. And well, that’s the
dream.
What message do you want to send to
people about your volunteer work?
See, we all have things to do, everyone
is busy, obviously, but at the end of the
day if you ask what the purpose of life
is, you would say; to help someone, to
make someone smile. If you can do that,
just make someone smile you’ve done
something, so it’s about taking the time
out, maybe just half an hour of your day,
do something good for a change. Shake
hands with the garbage man; give him a
buck or 5 buck, something small. For you it
is a small thing but to them it is a big deal.
by
HEINRICH TAUTE
36
Are We the
Ones to Blame?
by DINUSHKA SUDUSINGHE
Have you ever thrown away a piece of paper that you could use again? Have you
ever thrown a plastic can to a rubbish bin when there’s a recycling bin right next
to you? If we are being honest, we all have done something like this before, but did
you ever stop to think how this would affect our lives or the earth? Paper we use
comes from the rainforest, so can you imagine all of those trees being deforested
just for paper? There is only one way to stop this and its to recycle. Next time
you think of throwing a piece of paper into the bin, look at the other side of the
paper or see if there are some blank spaces you could use or write on, because
eventually one day we are going to run out of paper and trees. Did you know that
the rainforests are the lungs of our earth, they recycle the carbon dioxide we emit
and produce oxygen for us to breathe in? We depend on the trees for our survival,
so we need to start recycling before it’s too late!
Most probably, everyone drinks something which is contained inside a plastic cup
at least once a week and has thrown it into a rubbish bin instead of a recycling
bin that is few a meters away at most or even right next to you. Did you know
recycling 1 plastic cup saves enough energy to power up a T.V for 3 hours,
families throw about 40kg of plastic every year and it takes 500 years for plastic
to decompose! Each person recycling plastic can change everything! Just that
one plastic cup you put into a recycling bin can change everything and make it
possible for the families who don’t have electricity to benefit from one simple act.
So it’s time for us to make a change! Next time you throw a piece of paper away, a
glass bottle, a plastic bottle or plastic can… think! We only get the one earth; so we
must try to sustain it for all we’re worth! GET RECYCLING!
37
Smiles
by SHYAMSANKER S.
Have you ever noticed how a small,
usually unnoticed gesture can make
you feel so good? A smile, a few friendly
words can turn your day around. Here’s
why I love the little things that make you
smile.
I walk out of my house in a stupor
induced from wanting to sleep for those
few extra minutes. Don’t get me wrong,
I’m usually a morning person, but the
chilly weather at this time of the year
makes my sleep so much more special.
I put my earphones on, and begin my
rather long and sleepy journey to work.
It’s funny how all this turns around
when I visit the gas station to get myself
a cup of coffee. As I enter the store, I’m
greeted with a loud ‘Good Morning,
Sir!’ and a warm, jovial smile. Without
knowing it, the feeling’s caught on,
and I’m in the same bubbly mood. No
caffeine required. Of course, I still do get
my coffee, but the small gesture makes
a rather big difference. Contagious, the
smile spreads a positivity and sense of
fun that I carry to the office. It’s nice
to see people being nice. I find that
it inspires acts of kindness in others
too. Not to mention the good feeling
it leaves behind. A smile to a stranger,
a thank you, a little chat or a gentle
handshake can go a long way. This
brings to mind a beautiful and rather
lengthy quote from one of my favorite
movies, Stranger than Fiction – ‘We still
find reassurance in a familiar hand on
our skin, or a kind and loving gesture,
or subtle encouragement, or a loving
embrace, or an offer of comfort, not
to mention hospital gurneys and nose
plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken
secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and
maybe the occasional piece of fiction.
And we must remember that all these
things, the nuances, the anomalies,
the subtleties, which we assume only
accessorize our days, are effective for a
much larger and nobler cause.’
38
Gizmos &
Gadgets
by ANTON RODIONOV
Spring is knocking on our doors and so
are the new devices. While the whole
world is hanging in suspense for a new
iPad3 and Samsung Galaxy S3, I would
like to talk about what’s been given to
the public and what you could find in
the shops now, not two months later.
Shall we start?
LYTRO
Let’s talk “ Amazing!”. This is Lytro- the world’s only camera that captures an
entire light field providing you with interactive images. Confused? So was I. You
see, up until Lytro, our average cameras would capture a single pane of light,
resulting in an image that one could not interact with after its been captured,
ie the focus of the image had to be defined before the shutter did its thing, now
with Lytro, all you have to do is click and then worry about the focus.You can
even share the photos online and let the others control the focus. With this new
technology possibilities are endless. To find out more about this techy wonder go
to www.lytro.com
BLACKBERRY
PORCHE DESIGN P‘9981
First and foremost, let me just say that if RIM does not stop this string
of tragic product releases, they will be bankrupt. Their “new,” high-end
device, BlackBerry Porche Design P’9981 is pretty much the BB Bold 9900
dressed in a shiny armor. The software of the handset is the same tired
BlackBerry OS 7 with the Porche skin on top. Scratch beneath the surface
and all the specs will remind you of 9900 with a massive AED7000+ pricetag slapped on it. All the worthlessness aside, however, some credit should
be given where it’s due- the phone sports a unique industrial design,
adding on some class and weight to the usual cheap-felt RIM products. I
would not advise this to anybody, after all, there is only so long you can
milk the cow, and this cow is in desperate need of retirement.
SAMSUNG
GALAXY NOTE
“A phone? A tablet? A note! It’s the Samsung Galaxy Note!”- yes this is the way
marketing works at Samsung. Confuse your customer, let them figure it all
out! I personally think that Samsung is the only Android manufacturer at the
moment worth buying, if that’s how you roll. However, the weakest point of the
Note is its size. At 5.3’, the thing is actually too big to be used as a phone, as it is
impossible to use it with one hand, fit it into your pocket or simply place against
your face while making a call; at the same time the Note is too small for it to be a
tablet. It is way too small to watch movies on or enjoy the large screen real estate
while sketching, designing or simply browsing the net. Size aside, this device is
beautifully crafted, it packs a dual-core processor, which makes it a fast horse to
ride and the battery life is good enough to last you a little over a day. If you are
looking for an Android phone, look for a Galaxy Nexus; as for Android tablets,
Asus Transformer Prime is a much better buy.
WIN!
me-movies.com
Me-movies.com have got loads of premiere
tickets to all sorts of movies, so log on to
their website, enter and win.
JOHN CARTER
FROM MARS
Cast: Taylor Kitsch
Disney is banking on this
upcoming sci-fi adventure
as their pre-summer
blockbuster, and it does
look impressive in scale. It
follows a Civil War vet who is
transported to Mars and has
to battle a barbarian force to
protect the princess. It’s an
expensive film and Disney is
making sure it’s a
must-see event.
39
Movies
DR SEUSS’S
THE LORAX
WRATH OF THE
TITANS
Cast: Zac Efron, Taylor Swift,
Danny Devito
Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam
Neeson, Rosamund Pike
The film tells the story of Ted,
an idealistic young boy who
seeks the help of The Lorax, a
grumpy yet gentle creature,
to win the love of the girl of
his dreams. If you appreciate
Dr. Seuss’s stories and styles
from films like The Grinch
and Horton Hears a Who,
then chances are, you will
love this film.
“Clash of the Titans”, we
saw the Greek hero Perseus
taking on the Kraken to save
queen Andromeda. Now,
in “Wrath of the Titans” we
revisit Perseus’s exploits
in adventures inspired by
Greek Mythology. This time,
he attempts to rescue Zeus
from an alliance formed by
treacherous Ares and the
malevolent Hades.
HUNGER GAMES
MIRROR MIRROR
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence,
Josh Hutcherson,
Woody Harrelson
Cast: Lily Collins,
Julia Roberts
Based on the first book of
science fiction Hunger Games
trilogy, the film follows of the
story of Katniss Everdeen
as she volunteers to replace
her sister in the “Hunger
Games”, an event where two
teenagers from each district
are forcibly chosen to fight
each other to death.
Director Tarsem Singh brings
the classic tale of Snow White
in its latest film adaptation.
While we are used to the
classic Disney adaptation of
Snow White, Singh brings
comedy and his own brand
of fantasy to the classic tale,
and provides a new twist on
the traditional story.
LONDON PARIS
NEW YORK
Cast: Ali Zafar
Pakistani actor Ali Zafar has
proven himself successful
in India so far, but this
upcoming romantic comedy
is his chance to prove that
he has chops as a leading
man in a major Bollywood
production. While inspired by
movies like ‘A Lot like Love’,
it looks pleasant and pretty
enough to be a surprise hit
come March.
40
Human Nature
byHamza arif
Maintaining a strictly rational approach
can be the harder choice in the short
term but in the long term i believe yields
far greater rewards. I believe that the
most powerful and courageous choice
we can make is to embrace the power
of reason no matter how uncertain or
difficult the journey may be. We should
attempt to approach life as the ultimate
scientist with an open mind and without
preconceptions, the reward for our
efforts will be the truth, and that is to be
prized above all else. A common belief
is that to live a fullfilling life we should
simply pursue happiness for ourselves
and others, yet even our very happyness
is subject to the laws of truth. How can
we be sure that our actions are making
us truly happy if we dont have a rational
understanding of the universe we live in
and majorly ourselves. What i believe is
that we may be able to explain our lives
and the universe using reason alone. Of
course taking into the account the fact
that all beauty and majesty of anything is
enhanced by its truthfullness.
Our very name “sapiens” is Latin for
“being wise” or “knowing”. Hence, even
literally we were meant to seek truth
and knowledge. Surely the greatest gift
of sentience is the ability to consider
one’s own existence and mortality. I
cannot think of anything more appalling
than the thought of someone having
lived this life without having considered
their own nature of existence. This is
what fundamentally separates us from
(our knowledge of) animals. This self
awareness is the crowning achievement
of the human intellect; to neglect it is to
abandon what makes us uniquely human.
Einstein says- A human being is a part
of the whole, called by us “Universe,”
a part limited in time and space. He
experiences himself, his thoughts and
feelings as something separated from
the rest – a kind of optical delusion of his
consciousness. This delusion is a kind
of prison for us, restricting us to our
personal desires and to affection for a
few persons nearest to us. Our task must
be to free ourselves from this prison
by widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living creatures and the
whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is
able to achieve this completely, but the
striving for such achievement is in itself a
part of the liberation and a foundation for
inner security.
PHOTOGRAPHER
Maitha Bint Khalid
While most young ladies love to strike a pose as soon as
they see a lens, we found an incredibly talented young
lady that chooses to be behind the lens at all times.
She has a strong vision for her country and would
rather have her photographs speak for themselves.
“My inspiration is our country’s
future. I want the coming
generations to feel what I feel
when taking those pictures; I
want them to be proud of where
they come from.”
Maitha Bint Khalid took up professional photography in 2005 but her passion
started long before that. “Just recently I realized that my addiction started
when my mother bought me my first Polaroid camera when I was in first grade,”
she recalls. “And since then I bought new cameras constantly. I didn’t really feel
the addiction until 2003 when I bought my first compact digital camera and
started to take photos of almost everything that caught my eye. But after much
experimentation, I knew it was time for a better camera so I bought my first
professional camera in 2005,” she adds.
Maitha is currently majoring in Emirati Studies at Zayed University in Dubai and
is fascinated by the local Emirati culture and heritage. This is her inspiration.
This is her country. “My inspiration is our country’s future,” she says sincerely.
She’s a quiet girl who exudes poise and self-assurance. But what is unmistakably
noticeable is her patriotism for her nation. “With my work, I am capturing history
and culture with an artistic eye. I want the coming generations to feel what I
feel when taking those pictures; I want them to be proud of where they come
from. Through my studies, I want to support my photographs with research and
vice-versa in order to transfer the physical and mental picture onto images and
ultimately to our coming generations,” Maitha says with confidence.
In spite of being just 23 years old, Maitha
is part of several photography societies
like The Emirates Photography Society
“PSUAE”. She has also won numerous
local and international competitions
including the best Emirati Photographer
of 2011, FIAP Golden Medal and the 7th
Honorable mention in the International
Photography Awards Los Angeles, 2011.
When asked what her most memorable
moment was, she immediately lights up,
“ It was May 29th, 2010 when I won the
best Emirati Photographer. I was looking
forward to this achievement since 2008
when the competition first started.”
Maitha believes in “optical nutrition”
and develops her photography skills
by examining other prominent
photographers’ work. But participating
in competitions and exhibitions keeps
her motivated.
43
While the photography industry in the
UAE is just beginning to mature, she
has her own take on what can be done
to further develop this industry. “I
think we need promote and encourage
photographers’ originality and
individuality by facilitating interaction
between local and international
photographers from different schools
of thought,” she says. But coming from
a very conservative family, Maitha has
faced a few challenges and has managed
to overcome them. “In the beginning,
my father refused that I write my full
name but eventually agreed on writing
my first two names”, she says. “Then I
asked his permission to participate in
competitions and with the blessings
of Allah, I achieved my first award, and
after that several other awards which
helped assure my father that I’m on the
right path,” she says.
Maitha believes that one should start off
by learning the basics of photography
and try different styles to find their most
suitable and creative style. Only then
should one work hard and master it. But
the most essential trait a photographer
must have is a creative eye, according
to her. “It’s crucial to see what others
can’t see. But that doesn’t mean that the
camera is not important. However, the
priority is you - the artist within you,”
she smiles.
by
Sandra Mergulhão
44
Steps to
Great Heights
by Hana Hassanbek & Serene Nemer
“the rewarding feeling of
crossing the finish line,
knowing that the money raised
was going towards the Eco
Farm & Orphanage made it
worthwhile.”
The Standard Chartered marathon is one
of the most popular sport events in Dubai.
Last year saw over 14,000 people get
involved and this year they were a record
breaking 20,000 people there. Also this
year the magnificent Burj Khalifa is where
the runners start and finish, which makes
it evermore special. The atmosphere
was electric and with so many different
nationalities and ages coming to the
event allowed all the runners feel very
supported. My group was running the 10k
to help raise money for an Eco-Farm &
Orphanage project that we are going to
visit in June.
Dubtant and a record breaking winner Ayele Abshero Biza
Winner in women category
Aselefech Mergia Medessa
For me, the run was an exciting challenge
- having never taken part in the Dubai
Standard Chartered Marathon before I
was unsure of what to expect. The vast
number of people participating, the
English College group I was running
with and the purpose behind the run
made it all the more enjoyable, however
strenuous it may have been. It was
definitely a physically taxing experience
but the rewarding feeling of crossing
the finish line, knowing that the money
raised was going towards the Eco Farm &
Orphanage made it worthwhile.
The Eco Farm & Orphanage is sitatued
near the basecamp of Everest. Seventeen
and trekking to Everest Base
Camp. Something I consider to be a
once in a lifetime experience and I am
extremely grateful for the opportunity to
take part in The English College, Everest
Base Camp Challenge.
Everest is situated in the centre of the Himalayas and has one of the harshest
climates known to men. For some of the locals life is extremely difficult and this is
where Mission Himalaya’s Eco Farm & Orphanage project comes in. The proceeds
fundraised by the students taking part in the challenge go towards the Eco Farm
& Orphanage. Continually supported by The English College, their aim is to build
a self-sustaining Eco Farm and Home for Orphaned, Homeless children in Nepal.
The trip, which consists of 14 students led by 2 members of staff, will be a total
of 17 days. During which we will meet a variety of people from the countries of
Kathmandu and Tibet, embrace their way of life, the different cultures and take
in sights, which we would be unable to experience otherwise.
So as time is nearing our departure in July, fundraising is well underway! One of
the ways in which the students as a whole have raised money, was by taking part
in the Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon’s 10km run in January. This annual
event was ever more popular this year which could be felt in the atmosphere on
the day. The thousands of people taking part in the 10km run all took off at an
early start of 7.15 am. While I was running it also got me to start thinking about
the fulfilling feeling of reaching Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5250 metres,
knowing I have followed in the footsteps of climbers who were the first to venture
up the tallest mountain in the world.
I truly believe this will be an experience of a lifetime and I am looking forward to
accomplishing it this summer.
On The Top Of The World
On a superficial level, Atte Miettinen is an unassuming man,
sitting in Starbucks dressed in clothes that didn’t exactly
differentiate him from the plethora of weekend shoppers and
tourists; however, what distinguishes him from the rest isn’t
the logo on his jeans or the cards in his wallet, but what he has
accomplished and perhaps more importantly, where he is going.
In 2003 during a holiday trip, Atte and some friends successfully scaled Mount
Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, the highest mountain in Africa. Naturally, since then he
has surmounted the mountains of Elbrus (Russia), Aconcagua (Argentina) and
Kosciuszko (Indonesia) and Vinson Massif (Antarctica). Geography enthusiasts
may have noticed a correlation between the aforementioned summits in that
they are the highest mountains for their respective continents, others that they
are all of dubious pronunciation. Of Finnish origin, Atte is attempting to become
the first of his countrymen to complete the Seven Summits Challenge, of which he
is only two summits, Mount Everest (Nepal) and Mount McKinley (United States
of America), away from completing.
46
An endeavour of such an extreme nature evokes equally extreme emotions and
reactions. He describes it as an almost spiritual experience, one that makes
you realise your limitless potential be it on a mountain or in the workplace.
Furthermore, it predicates a relationship with nature in that is practically
impossible to emulate in the routine and banality of modern life. He regards
meeting peoples whose lives are interconnected with nature as a privilege, one
that is humbling and enriches his own through the profound alteration of his
perspectives. Speaking from personal experience, he says it opens the mind and
influences your outlook, allowing you to derive satisfaction from experiences
rather than materialistic objects. During his travels, he has cultivated an
altruistic flair which is reflected by volunteering to teach disadvantaged children
in Nepal with his ever supportive wife.
Atte describes mountaineering as a personal act, one that allows for a reflection
on life and unlocking potential that would otherwise be undiscovered. The
process of creating goals and objectives allows for one to gauge their selfbetterment whilst simultaneously working out your limits. An anecdote he
provided was when he initially attempted Aconcagua, an incident whereby he
was forced to discontinue due to developing a serious throat infection. However,
he admirably returned to Argentina and successfully conquered the mountain,
which I personally believe reflects that even limits have limits.
The contrast between nature’s serenity and perils allows you to feel enriched
and augmented, complimented by the euphoria associated with reaching the
summit. A disconcertingly amusing story he revealed to us is that after an
arduous trek, one mountaineer was so relieved upon reaching the summit she
exclaimed her happiness and fainted from oxygen deprivation (he ensured us she
was okay). Subsequently, it develops a respect and appreciation for nature and
the environment which he feels is being overlooked, a feeling I couldn’t help but
identify with as I observed people hurriedly exchanging Visas for Frappuccino’s
whilst absorbed with their smartphones.
The inherent difficulties and complexities involved in undertaking such a feat
nurtures an almost unique relationship with fellow travellers. He describes
a particular breed of friendship that is created when you entrust your life
into the hands of others, one that isn’t dissimilar from military comradeship;
likewise, a universal characteristic shared by those involved is the compulsion
to better themselves through physical and mental exertion, allowing the most
diverse people to be united through a single cause. It teaches you the merits and
importance of collaboration, attributes which can be translated into both your
personal and professional lives.
by
SIOBHAN FRAILE
However, there is the omnipresent element of danger involved in all of his
expeditions. Before he even gets near a mountain, months of physical training
must be undertaken to ensure an adequate level of stamina and endurance. Being
of a humorous disposition, he recalls the odd glances exchanged when residents
of his apartment block caught him running up and down the fire escape, or
when he runs down a beach at ridiculous o’clock with a tire strung to his back.
This danger is most infamously observed at Everest, where 219 climbers have
tragically lost their lives since the original expedition in 1922.
Likewise, he must envision and strategize for hypothetical scenarios that may
arise to ensure that he is prepared for the eventuality of a crisis. He emphasizes
that preparation is a keyword, reminding me of the old adage failing to plan is
planning to fail. Choosing reputable companies and experienced mountaineers is
an essential towards mitigating the chance of failure or even crisis, advice which
he says isn’t heeded by many and causes unnecessary tragedies. Timing is critical
with short windows of opportunity that allow for safe ascents. An example of
this is again Mount Everest, which can only be reasonably summited during the
monsoon period in May.
He has seen profound changes in mountaineering over the years, notably in
the demographics and constitution of those whom attempt it. It has become
more mainstream, with a proportional increase in women, youth, the elderly
and even families. However, he cautions against those who irrationally assume
that they can scale a mountain with little or no training. A certain machismo
blinds some into thinking that they are sufficiently prepared to ascend (and
descend) a mountain. He notes that this not only endangers themselves but
those unfortunate enough to be travelling with them, since each member’s life is
interdependent on the unit.
“mountaineering is a
personal act, one that
allows for a reflection on
life and unlocking potential
that would otherwise be
undiscovered.”
Mount Everest remains his ultimate goal, touching upon the mysterious ‘magical’
qualities that attracted him to it. He believes that youth should be exposed to not
just mountaineering, but general areas of enrichment that enhance the value of
their lives. His departing message to us is that people can do anything they want
to do, to not be afraid to dream and to realise these ambitions through grasping
every opportunity that is presented to them. And at the end of the day he is
probably right; although academia and our careers matter, when we reflect upon
our lives we won’t recall our report cards or management feedback, it will be the
moments that gave us purpose and the experiences that took our breath away.
For being the living embodiment of that sentiment, I tip my hat in his general
direction.
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Photography
The winner of this month’s
photography contest is
Josh Sadanha with ‘Solitree’
by
JOSH SALDANHA
An Emirati friend once told me that the spirits and
Jinn roam the desert in the dark and it was best to
not upset them by disturbing. I have never been one
to believe in these things, but in the silence I couldn’t
help feel a bit spooked all alone in dark. Regardless,
I got out and tried to make out where I was in the
darkness. I could barely see my hands in front of my
face, but the stars were glowing above my head. I
tried to snap whatever I could when quickly I noticed
silhouettes around me. Suddenly I could see the
outlines of the dunes I had ventured into – the sun
was coming up! I noticed a solitary figure in the dunes
which stood out. Just like me, this tree stood alone
by itself and as the sun rose, I snapped a shot of my
solitary companion as I felt the sun’s rays warming
the cold sand around me. I had never had a moment
like that with nature before, and to think that it
would’ve happened in the metropolitan city of Dubai!
Lalaine Rose
Ramya Iyer
Rawan Hanoon
51
Josh Saldanha
52
Letters to
a Coach
Get advice from our life coach
Maria Chatila. Write to her at
coach@one8one.net. All writing
will remain anonymous.
Q. I seem to be rather careless with my
money management. I study in India and
have a fixed monthly budget that includes
my rent and other necessities. I usually end
up falling short by a bit towards the end of
the month. At 22, I’m not too comfortable
with spending my parent’s money. I’d like to
learn to save, and spend wisely.
Maria V. Chatila is presently living in Dubai with
her husband and three children. She works as
an Education & Relationship Life Coach. She is
dedicated to helping schools, families, couples
and individuals to build personal and family
awareness’ while creating empowering
relationships. Maria has given talks and
workshops to groups as well as working
privately with clients.
Spend wisely
I can sense from your letter that you are deeply concerned with your money
management. First, I suggest that you sit down and work on your core values. What
is important to you in your life? What inspires you to wake up and be proactive? How
does money enable you to achieve those values? What are you saying ‘yes’ to when
you spend your money that makes you fall short to the more important needs in your
life at the end of the month? Asking yourself these questions will help you to become
more clear, conscious and most importantly, honest with yourself.
Next, look back at your values and ask yourself what is driving your discomfort with
spending your parent’s money? The words ‘I’d like to…’ really mean something but you
hold the key with all of the answers to this very deep question. Challenge yourself
and reflect inward to find the answer. What is the challenge for you when you spend
your parent’s money? What do you secretly wish you could do instead of spending
your parent’s money? What is stopping you?
Finally, I highly recommend that you sit down with a financial mentor. As an expert,
the mentor will be able to look at your expenses and your income and help you to
come up with a plan that fits your needs. Remember that as students, you spend
years learning how to be academic achievers but the great majority of students rarely
learn how to save and spend money independently.
Listen
I believe a great place to start is with the term ‘communication’. What does it really
mean? ‘Communication is the conveying of messages from one person to another’
Wikipedia. I imagine that your friend is struggling to have her messages conveyed
with the most skill. This is often the case with many young adults and teenagers.
In fact, there are many adults on the planet that have still not mastered the skill of
communication. However, from the sound of your letter, it seems that SA is probably
keeping matters to herself because she feels unsafe to share her insecurities with
friends and family.
Q. Another friend, SA, often keeps matters
to herself be it good or bad, and this messes
up her communication with family and
friends. She finds it very hard to trust
people and doesn’t include other’s opinions
while making decisions, although they may
be of some help. She’d rather announce
events when they’re successful; to save face
if anything goes wrong.
A great exercise to help your friend work on this challenge is to begin by letting her
vent her frustrations about communicating with friends and family. Ask her to write
them down as short captions. It is important that she doesn’t get lost in telling long
stories. Ensure that you are not judging her by making comments and encouraging
her to feel ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Next, take her sheet of paper and put it out in front of her.
Ask her to release the issue and look at it on the paper as if it no longer belonged to
her. Challenge her to describe how she could get support and trust family and friends
now that she does not own her issue.
This exercise will help her to see her issue as separate to herself. Most people are
so attached to their fears and issues that they cannot objectively brainstorm new
ways of improving their situation. Let me know how this activity goes and remember,
she is not wrong in feeling what she feels, but she can always choose to perceive her
situation differently by putting it out in front.
Help with university
It seems as though you are a very concerned friend and I applaud you for caring.
However, I also caution you for being judgmental. I imagine that your judgment is
unconscious and that you are trying to help your friend. I encourage you to help your
friend complete the ‘Core Values Exercise’. This exercise will help her understand
what is stopping her from achieving the drive and motivation that she is lacking at the
moment.
My method of eliciting core values is easy and very effective. Start by taking a piece of
paper and pencil and draw a line down the middle of the sheet of paper. On the left side,
write down the characteristics of people that you find challenging to be with. I do this
because it is always easiest for most people to pinpoint the characteristics in others
that they do not like. Don’t stop at just 2-3 characteristics; ask yourself ‘what else’ over
and over until you have exhausted your list.
Next, write the opposite of each characteristic on the right side of the sheet. This part
can be challenging because now, you are asking yourself, ‘if I am challenged by that
characteristic, what would I like them to be like’. Once this is complete, you are halfway
through eliciting your core values.
Finally, continue by taking your ‘ideal characteristics list’ and begin clearly defining
what they mean to YOU. I state the word YOU strongly because every-one has the
right to define them differently, that is why our core values are unique to each person.
Remember, this is not an English assignment. You are not defining what the word
means as a vocabulary assignment, you are asking yourself, ‘what does this mean to me
and how would I know that someone is achieving this characteristic’. As you work your
way down the list, you may find yourself linking characteristics together because they
may mean the same thing, this is fine and very common.
It may become apparent to her that the courses she is taking are not aligning with
her values system. Finally, your friend may be needing some normalising so I would
sit her down and let her know that what she is experiencing is very normal and that
understanding what her core values are will help her to choose courses at university
that will keep her ‘on purpose’ with what excites her and with what she will naturally
find motivating.
Q. A friend of mine from university
hasn’t been able to finish her course yet
because she hasn’t been doing too well,
academically. While she is smart, she
doesn’t work hard enough. The course
is rather demanding, and requires more
than last minute studying. She’s fallen
back a few years. At this point, she doesn’t
work because she has lost the drive and
interest to finish what she started. She is a
close friend of mine, and I’d like to see her
doing well. I do tell her what I think, and
try to motivate her to work harder, but she
doesn’t listen.
54
You Are
What YouEat
Photo : Dahlia Dandashi
I was hanging out with friends and as usual
we decide to go grab something to eat since
we’ve been out all day on the beach and were
starving. So we went to the nearest fast-food
place and I order the biggest double cheese
burger, extra large fries and (I wonder why I
even bother) a diet Coke. You’ll never guess
what happened next. It was as if someone
had given me a tranquilizer. I sank in the
chair with a stomach ache, could no longer
function properly and felt like my brain had
gone numb. I barely had the strength to make
it home. It was the worse experience I’d ever
had with food. From then on I decided to find
out how I can teach myself to make good
choices when it comes to eating out.
It’s actually easier than we think. Wherever
you are there’s bound to be something
healthy on the menu. We also need to watch
out for those extras like dressings, cheeses
and sauces no matter how tempting they are.
RULES FOR KEEPING IT HEALTHY
Go for a balanced meal
which means:
a. lean proteins like grilled chicken, meat, fish or beans if you’re vegetarian
b. fruits and vegetables. And no, fries are not veggies
c. whole grains like wholewheat bread and brown rice
Drink water
Hydrate your body and don’t go for sodas and energy drinks, they’re full of
sugar, caffeine, food colouring and loads of other disgusting stuff.
Don’t over eat
Most fast food places will come at you with huge portions and try to sell you
even larger portions, extra fries, desserts and sauces. Don’t let them fool
you - go for the smaller meals. If you’re at a restaurant ask for your
sauces and salad dressing on the side and don’t eat them all. Chose salsa and
mustard instead of mayo and don’t eat that bread and butter they put on
your table as soon as you arrive. Use non fat milk instead of cream or whole
milk and when they ask you what you want for the side order go for salad or
vegetables, you know it’s the right choice. Dessert sir/madam? Say NO THANK
YOU and have some fruits about an hour after your food.
Things to get for a quick bite at the mall:
• Wholewheat veggie pizza. Go for fresh and/or organic
• Grilled protein sandwich with wholewheat bread and no mayo.
• Small burger
• Baked potato
• Salad with grilled meats
• Frozen yogurt
by
Health freak
Astro
March 2012
PISCES
(19 February - 20 March)
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
CANCER
Friends are fighting over your
attention this month and
you’re loving it. Watch out
for your sibling and be nice
because whatever it is that
is bothering you about them
are the same qualities you
have, so if you don’t like what
they’re doing, change. Don’t
try to fix whatever’s going on
at home, you’ll only make it
worse, just wait and it may
resolve itself.
You don’t know where or
why you have more money
this month but it feels great.
A friend may ask to borrow
some and you may choose to
be generous but you won’t
have any money left with you
afterwards. You’re trying really
hard to keep someone’s secret,
but don’t worry, someone
else knows and will spill it
before you ever think of telling
anyone.
You feel great and everyone
can see that. People can’t help
but look at you as you pass
by them, the energy is very
attractive. Some may even
comment on how great you
look. Take the compliment and
smile. You know how great you
are so don’t make any drastic
changes just to impress
someone. You’re already
perfect.
This month you need to slow
down and take it easy even
when you really feel like going
out and partying. You need the
rest. When you’re asked for
a favor be careful not to over
commit and under deliver.
Listen to your parents; you
know they’re right, even when
it doesn’t make sense. Get out
a little more and exercise it
will make you feel really good.
LEO
VIRGO
LIBRA
SCORPIO
Your friends may be planning
a prank that is not funny at all
or is it the other way around?
Watch out you don’t hurt or
upset anyone. Be patient with
your friends this month, you
know they love you and are
just being stupid sometimes.
Gather all the facts before you
react. If you’re really angry
find a place you can work out
on your own and release all
the stress.
Studies are great and loads
of activities at school. You
may even get a certificate as
a surprise for being so great
at something that you’ve been
doing lately. There’s no better
time to put a plan for becoming
even better since you now have
a good base and clear vision
of where you want to be. Now
that you know what you want
you are able to make quick
decisions when your friends
ask you for things.
AAAH! Vacation. Try to get
away this month, you need it.
If not, you may want to spend
some time on the beach or at
the club and pretend you’re on
some island in the Bahamas.
There are some changes
coming your way, but don’t
get frustrated. Everything
always happens for a reason.
Don’t complain and embrace
whatever comes your way
next.
There are things you’ve been
doing together with some
friends and it’s been loads of
fun. Don’t be upset that you’re
not getting enough recognition
for it and stay committed if you
promised to finish whatever it
is that you were doing. Those
are the times you find out who
your real friends are. Just wait
and time will reveal everything
you wanted to know.
SAGITTARIUS
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
PISCES
You have great friends and
you’ve gotten along really well
until you start seeing things
in each other that you don’t
necessarily like. You can either
talk it through or remember
that little things shouldn’t
be dwelled over. Relax and
get away from your every
day environment for a bit if
you can. Instead of fighting
for everything sit with your
sibling and work out what’s
yours and what’s theirs.
School’s been really exciting
this month with great new
challenges and opportunities
coming your way. If you have
any suggestions for your
parents you may want to write
them down and hand it to
them. They would be happy
to receive them and may even
give you what you want but
you need to be patient. Just
wait for great things to come
your way.
Fighting with friends is a no
no, especially this month. Sit
down and write everything
you feel. If you still feel like
you need to confront your
friend do so when you’re calm
and rational. You have choices
regarding which path to follow
and you don’t need to make a
decision within hours. Take
your time and whatever it is
you’re going to do great.
Time to rearrange your room.
Take the time to go through all
your old stuff and give it away.
Try not to get carried away
with all the writing and the
music at home or else it will
interfere with your studies.
You will make new friends
and meet some new people
but some of them you just
can’t make out. Give them the
space to talk and tell you who
they are and what they are
passionate about.
(21 March- 20 April)
(21 July- 20 August)
(23 November- 20 December)
(21 April- 20 May)
(21 August- 20 September)
(21 December- 19 January)
21 May- 20 June)
(21 September- 20 October)
(20 January- 18 February)
(21 June- 20 July)
(21 October- 22 November)
(19 February- 20 March)
58
General
Knowledge Quiz
Tick the answers in the quiz to find out just
how much you know.
(1 point per question).
1. If I take 3 lollipops out of a basket containing 9 lollipops how
many lollys do I have?
2. A chef at a restaurant has 5 potatoes to feed a table of 3 people
- how can he give them equal portions without fractions?
more than an average student. Keep your mind
open and try to keep all that information you find on the
net because it will come up one day and you will need it.
When someone talks to you on any topic you are quite
confident because you know you have a good base of
knowledge. If there is anything you don’t know and are
interested in you will look it up and remember it forever.
Keep it up and keep practicing. There is great potential
and you can become great at it.
17-24
WOW! You’re a whizz. You’re one of those
people that may not rely heavily on Google for
everything since you’ve learned to retain quite a lot in
that heavy brain of yours. You may notice that most of
the time you have the advantage while engaged in a
conversation. All those things you keep in your head are
great starting points to a conversation and always keep
people interested in what you have to say. You’re like a
walking Encyclopedia.
Answers
9-16 You’re quite knowledgeable and know a little
1.3;2.Mashed potatoes;3.Bee hummingbird;4.New Zeland;5.8;6.
Aphrodite;7.Chinese, English, Hindustani;8.1989;9.Fe;10.7;11.
Istanbul (Europe and Asia);12.42;13.Cygnet;14.Arachnophobia;15.
Dolly;16.Foxtrot;17.190;18.Ostrich;19.Sahara Desert;20.Dead Sea;21.
Brazil;22.Bahrain;23.13;24.Cairo
You know what you need to know. What you were
taught at school or your parents and not more.
What would happen if your iphone or BlackBerry died on
you all of a sudden and someone asked you an interesting
question you don’t know the answer to? Don’t be a
Google-holic and try to keep that information in your
head once you search for it. You may want to work on
your GK a little more and set aside some time every day
to practice. Use Google, word puzzles and trivia websites.
Make it fun.
1-8
3. What is the worlds smallest bird?
4. Which country gave women the right to vote first?
5.How many tentacles does an Octupus have?
6.In Greek Mythology who was the goddess of Love?
7.What are the worlds 3 most spoken Languages?
8.What year did the Berlin Wall come down?
9.What is the Chemical Symbol for Iron?
10. How many sides does a Heptagon have?
11. Which is the only city in the world to lie in 2 continents?
12. How many eyes are there in a pack of 52 cards?
13. What is a baby swan called?
14. What is the fear of spiders called?
15. What was the name of the first cloned sheep?
16. What is the international radio code word for the letter F?
17. What is 20% of 950?
18. What is the worlds largest bird?
19. What is the biggest desert in the world?
20. What sea does the river Jordan flow into?
21. What is the largest coffee growing country?
22. Which country’s national anthem is only music and no words?
23. What is regarded as a lucky number in Italy?
24. What is the largest city in Africa?
CROSSWORD
59
Across
Down
3
4
5
7
8
9
Something that involves our entire planet 1 Similar to comfort
Positive human emotion
2 Human creation that can unite
Country that never invaded
billions of poople through sound
State of being clam and untroubled
3 Organization that fights for ecology
Ability to do/say almost anything
of the Mother Earth (2 words)
Group of countries, entities, people
4 Ying-Yang, a state of balance
joined together
6 The only neutral European country
11 When two or more parties agree to terms, 10 Optimistic wish for improvement
however with a few shortcomings
13 Almost silent
12 A white bird associated with peace
15 Harmful, usually fatal chaos
14 Something that’s been given to us at birth
caused by at least two countries
16 Smallest country in the world
Brain Food
SUDOKU
Easy
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1
Answers from the previous issue
8
2
3
5
7
4
6
1
9
6
P I N K
I
P A S
S
M I N E
S
F
H
3
3
9
6
6
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7
8
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15
16
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Hard
12
Easy
5
2
7
8
6
4
H E A R T
E
C U P I D
H
F L O W E R S
C
O
R
R
V A L E N T I N
B
S I O N
A
M
T
B
C A N D L E S
O
N
N
A
C
R O S E S
R I E N D
R
F L I R
O N E Y
A
W
C
L O V E
S
W
E S
E
T
H
E
A
R
T
60
Jokes
A vampire bat came flapping in from the
night covered in fresh blood and parked
himself on the roof of the cave to get
some sleep. Pretty soon all the other bats
smelled the blood and began hassling him
about where he got it.
Vampire Bat
He told them to go away and let him get
some sleep but they persisted until finally
he gave in.
“OK, follow me” he said and flew out of the
cave with hundreds of bats behind him.
Down through the valley they went, across
a river and into a forest full of trees. Finally
he slowed down and all the other bats
excitedly milled around him.
“Now, do you see that tree over there?” he
asked.
“Yes, Yes, Yes!” the bats all screamed in a
frenzy.
“Good” said the bat, “Because I sure didn’t!”
Divine Cat
Once upon a time, there was a cat who
died. When she got to heaven, God asked
her how she liked being on earth. She
told the Lord that it was awful, she had to
sleep in cold back alleys where there was
no food and life was hard. God told her
that he was sorry it had had turned out
that way but here, in heaven, she would
be happy and He would give her the most
comfortable, warm pillow to sleep on. The
cat laid down upon the pillow and was
happy.
A few days later, about a dozen mice that
came to heaven together and God asked
them how they had liked earth. Earth was
no better for them than it was the cat.
They explained to God that it was tough
and exhausting and their feet were worn
out from always running from cats and
dogs and people. God felt bad for the mice
and decided to give them rollerskates.
One day God sees the cat again and
asked her how she was liking heaven.
She explained that it was absolutely
wonderful. The pillow he gave her was the
most comfortable place that she had ever
slept on, but even better than the pillow
were the meals on wheels.
61
Charitable
Organizations
Abu Dhabi
Here are a few places where you can
call whenever you feel like giving or
helping those in need.
Operation Smile
Phone: 050 617 6746
Web: www.operationsmile.org
Emirates Wildlife Society
Phone: 02 634 7117
Web: http://uae.panda.org
Takatof
Phone: 02 698 8600, 800 825 2863
Web: www.takatof.ae
The Citizens’ Foundation
Phone: 02 602 3656
Web: www.thecitizensfoundation.org
United Nations Development Programme
Phone: 02 446 7600
Web: www.undp.org.ae
Red Crescent for United Arab Emirates
Phone: 02 884 8144
Web: www.rcuae.ae
Dubai
All 4 Down’s Syndrome
Phone: 050 880 9228
Web: www.all4downsyndrome.com
Emirates Environmental Group
Phone: 04 344 8622
Web: www.eeg-uae.org
Dubai Centre for Special Needs
Phone: 04 344 0966
Web: www.dcsneeds.ae
Dubai Charity
Phone: 04 268 2000
Web: www.dubaicharity.org.ae
Gulf 4 Good
Phone: 04 368 0222
Web: www.gulf4good.org
Senses Residential Care Home
for Children with Special Needs
Phone: 04 4572675
Dubai Cares
Phone: 04 450 4550
Web: www.dubaicares.ae
Children’s Hope Foundation
Phone: 04 511 1905
Web: www.chfdubai.org
Al Noor Training Centre for
Children with Special Needs
Phone: 04 340 4844
Web: http://alnoorspneeds.ae
Volunteer in the UAE
Phone: 04 452 1106
Web: www.volunteerinabudhabi.com
www.volunteerindubai.com
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63
How to Submit to one8one
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Sports Editor
Hana Hassanbek
Cover Graphics by
Alessandro Zanchetta
Graphic Design/ Production
Anton Rodionov
Love to write?
Whether it’s poems, book reviews, game
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Send us a review and give others the
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Write to us so we can let everyone else
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Fashion Art Director/ Stylist
Ivana Arsenikevic
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Lidia MakeUpArt
Photography
Marko Zirdum
Contributors
Maria Chatila - Life Coach
Feline Friends - Cat (Fashion shoot)
K9 Friends- Dogs (Fashion shoot)
Youth Contributors
Adrian Lehadus
Anton Rodionov
Anwar Marwan
Areeba Sadiq
Dahlia Dandashi
Dania Chatila
Diana K
Dina Hassan
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Ghadeer Abeidoh
Hamza Arif
Hana Hassanbek
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Holli Supka
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Lalaine Rose
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Louisa Northcote
Maitha Bint Khalid
Marta Cvetkovic
Nadine Taalat
Octavian Lehadus
Parinaaz Navdar
Rawan Hanoon
Ramya Iyer
Sandra Mergulhão
Serene Nemer
Shaylin Wilkins
Shyamsanker S.
Siobhan Fraile
Stereohead
William Ayass
Advertising
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